Jesus didn’t reject people. Neither do we.
Open & Affirming
Compassionate Action extends God’s unconditional welcome as an inclusive church that encourages the full participation of people that identify as LGBT. Compassionate Action engages community and world issues and events that build LGBT justice and equality.
National Coming Out Day is October 11
A note from the UCC’s Open and Affirming Coalition
The United Church of Christ is celebrating National Coming Out Day on October 11 in a big way. The Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries is inviting the wider church to share their own coming out stories which will be collected into a book called Love is Louder: The Book of Love.
A diverse tapestry
“[The book], we hope, will be a diverse tapestry of voices offering their liturgy, poetry, and devotionals for the wider church to utilize onward,” said R Ward, minister for Gender and Sexuality Justice. “Submissions are now open and we’re so excited to offer this resource digitally for National Coming Out Day week.”
Love is Louder: Love Your Neighbor OUT LOUD, according to an official description, “embodies the testimony of Jesus and calls on the Church to be faithful siblings to one another – friend and stranger – for the sake of love.”
“This is a movement where together we can support the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of LGBTQIA+ siblings! Our initiative offers faith communities with resources and tools for just action and care,” Ward said.
The importance of being involved
National Coming Out Day was founded in 1988 to honor the courage of LGBTQIA+ people who choose to live openly, celebrating the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The celebration comes amid tense and divisive rhetoric, and increased violence, which Ward says is important for the church to be involved.
“The Church has a responsibility, I believe, to respond in faithful love,” Ward said. Ward is also planning a special worship service that will be broadcast on October 8 featuring the various stories and messages that were submitted. There are also plans to release devotionals and prayers through the Book of Love offering that same day.
Churches, communities, and individuals may contribute to these two resources today at ucc.org/loveislouder.
The worship service will be broadcast live on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 3:30 P.M. Eastern Time on the UCC YouTube Channel.
Opening & Affirming Covenant
In our effort to be faithful to our understanding of the implications of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we affirm that God
God loves
all humankind
loves all humankind—people of all genders, ages, races, ethnic origins, religious backgrounds, physical and mental abilities and sexual orientations. We seek to be inclusive, accepting all who would join in a pilgrimage of faith with us as we seek the meaning of mercy, justice and compassion in living our lives in this place and at this time.
